biostudies-literatureAdena MDeutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftNarodowe Centrum NaukiIZA Bonn813-838https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9851896biostudies-literatureUnknown24(2)Using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE, 2004-17) and time diaries from Poland (2013), the U.S. (2006-16), the U.K. (2014-15) and France (2009-10), we examine differences between widowed and partnered older women in well-being and its development in widowhood. Most importantly, our analysis accounts for time use, an aspect which has not been studied previously. We trace the evolution of well-being of women who become widowed by comparing them with their matched non-widowed 'statistical twins' and examine the role of an exceptionally broad set of potential moderators of widowhood's impact on well-being. We confirm a dramatic decrease in mental health and life satisfaction after the loss of partner, followed by a slow partial recovery over a 5-year period. An extensive set of controls recorded prior to widowhood, including detailed family ties and social networks, provides little help in explaining the deterioration in well-being. Unique data from time-diaries kept by older women in several European countries and the U.S. tell us why: the key factor behind widows' reduced well-being is increased time spent alone.<h4>Supplementary information</h4>The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10902-023-00622-w.Journal of happiness studiesHome Alone: Widows' Well-Being and Time.PMC9851896project: 280092119CRC TRR 1902018/29/B/HS4/00559Oczkowska MHamermesh DMyck MAdena MfalseHome Alone: Widows' Well-Being and Time.Using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE, 2004-17) and time diaries from Poland (2013), the U.S. (2006-16), the U.K. (2014-15) and France (2009-10), we examine differences between widowed and partnered older women in well-being and its development in widowhood. Most importantly, our analysis accounts for time use, an aspect which has not been studied previously. We trace the evolution of well-being of women who become widowed by comparing them with their matched non-widowed 'statistical twins' and examine the role of an exceptionally broad set of potential moderators of widowhood's impact on well-being. We confirm a dramatic decrease in mental health and life satisfaction after the loss of partner, followed by a slow partial recovery over a 5-year period. An extensive set of controls recorded prior to widowhood, including detailed family ties and social networks, provides little help in explaining the deterioration in well-being. Unique data from time-diaries kept by older women in several European countries and the U.S. tell us why: the key factor behind widows' reduced well-being is increased time spent alone.<h4>Supplementary information</h4>The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10902-023-00622-w.2023-01-01T00:00:00Z20232025-04-22T08:48:16.631Z2025-04-05T22:41:17.611ZS-EPMC98518963669447710.1007/s10902-023-00622-w